Mining Leaders Prepare to Meet with Renewables Experts in Toronto

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwired - Sept. 18, 2014) - Over 300 attendees from the global mining industry and the renewable energy sector will meet in Toronto on October 15-16 for the 3rdRenewables and Mining Summit & Exhibition which explores the economics, practicalities, finance and implementation of new energy solutions for mines.

With energy accounting for 20 to 40 percent of operating expenses for mines, it has become a major focus of cost-savings for the sector. Mines are interested to understand how renewables can help lower energy costs and provide secure and stable power for remote and grid-connected sites. This international Summit is the essential nexus of the mining and renewables industries, providing them with the opportunity to make connections and understand how renewables and mining can work together on energy solutions.

Hatch is the Principal Sponsor of the Toronto Summit and of this global event series organized by Energy and Mines, part of Canadian Clean Energy Conferences. "The business case is clear - it is inevitable that wind and solar power will be a common component of the mining energy mix," says Rob Lydan, Director of Solar and Wind at Hatch. "We are proud to extend our sponsorship and support for this important conference. We consider the Renewables and Mining events to be the preeminent conference series on this topic." Lydan will be presenting at the Summit in Toronto on customizing and implementing renewables solutions for the global mining sector.

The Summit is also being sponsored by leading hybrid solution providers and renewable energy experts including Main Sponsors Siemens, Caterpillar, Renewable Energy Systems (RES), and SunEdison. Other supporters include Northland Power, NRG, Canadian Solar, SolarReserve, Carmanah Technologies, Corix, G+ Plastics, and Chadbourne & Parks LLP.

"I see high potential for our customers within the mining industry for installing optimized hybrid power plants," comments Till Krumbholz, Sales Manager for the Energy Sector's Smart Generation Solutions at Siemens AG. "Dramatically reducing their use of conventional energy sources will enable the mines to further optimize their energy related supply chain processes and at the same time lowering their LCOE. I look forward to the upcoming Summit and exchanging visions and concrete project ideas with other players in this growing market."

"This event provides an opportunity for hybrid power plant developers to further align their service offering to meet the needs of the mining industry. Once these two groups of businesses understand each other's goals, the potential for operational cost savings and emissions reductions at mines is huge," says Douglas McAlpine, Head of Microgrids at Renewable Energy Systems (RES).

"Solar is an optimal hybrid solution for high electricity consumers such as those in the mining sector," adds Michelle Chislett, Vice President & Country Manager at SunEdison. "Our Chilean 100 MW plant, powering the CAP mine, was brought about through SunEdison's innovative financing. This project also demonstrates that solar is a viable, long-term solution for rising electricity costs. The value for the mining industry is unparalleled and we see an enormous global opportunity to partner and expand our program."

This Summit is part of a global series of events organized by Energy and Mines to draw links between the mining and renewables sectors and drive solutions that help address mining's energy challenge for affordable, secure and sustainable power. Alongside the Toronto Summit, the company organizes events in Santiago (April 2015) and Johannesburg (June 2015) that focus on renewables for South American and African mines respectively.

Energy and Mines also produces case studies and reports to support the growth of renewables for mines. "This is an exciting market and we are seeing the scale and appetite for projects for mines increase significantly as they become more aware of the need to drive down power costs and the opportunities new solutions offer," says Adrienne Baker, Director of Energy and Mines. "The question is no longer whether renewables will play a role in powering mines but, rather, how and how big?"